Windmill.



F. A. PRBUSS.

WINDMILL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 16,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Vltnuoeo 1% Z i 2 attoznugd F. A. PREUSS.

WINDMILL- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'innmmmu wuewcoz F. A. PREUSS.

WINDMILL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK A. PREUSS, OF GREEN GARDEN TOWNSHIP, MADISON CC UNTY, NEBRASKA.

WINDIVIILL.

T 0 all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnron A. PnnUss, a citizen of the United States,residing in Green Garden township, in the county of Madison and State ofNebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWindmills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wind wheels andmore particularly to improvements in means for automatically moving thevanes into or out of the wind to compensate for speed variations due tochanges in the velocity of the wind and to maintain the rotation of thewind wheel at a uniform speed.

The invention comprises generally vanes mounted for partial rotation onthe spokes of the wheels, means for operating the vanes in theirmovements, centrifugal actuating means forming a part of and cooperatingwith the operating means, and spring or equivalent means for holding thevanes normally at positions in the wind.

In connection with a wind wheel having the above generalcharacteristics, the invention aims as a primary object to provide anovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts.

The details of construction will appear in the course of the followingdescription in which reference is had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, like characters of referencedesignating similar parts throughout the several views wherein Figure 1is a cross sectional view on the line 11 of Fig. 2, showing in sideelevation the wind wheel as an entirety, Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrow, the vanes being shown in perspective and other parts beingshown in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of thewheel, the operating mechanism for the vanes and the centrifugalactuating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view ofthe operating mech anism taken in a plane at right angles to the planeof Fig. 2.

The wind wheel structure comprises a hub 1, mounted on the shaft 2, andprovided with sockets 3, in which are seated the radial spokes 4, boltedto the ring 5. The vanes, designated 6 are mounted for partial rotationon the spokes 4 and toward this end Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 420,521.

carry bearing clips 7, which surround said spokes. Each vane 6 has, inthe outer portion thereof a transverse slot 8 through which the ring 5passes, the slots 8 being of suflicient width to allow of the partialrotation of the vanes.

The operating mechanism comprises essentially a collar 9, fast upon theshaft. 2, and a sleeve 10, slid-able upon said shaft between the hub 1and said collar. Said shaft is formed with guide pins or lugs 11 whichpass through longitudinal slots 12 in the sleeve 10. Said sleeve at itsend adjacent the hub 1 terminates in a plurality of radially disposedarms 13, which are each connected by links 14 with inwardly projectinglugs 15 formed on the several correspondingly located vanes 6. Betweenthe collar 9 and the sleeve 10 an expansive coil spring 16 is providedwhich acts to force said sleeve to the inward limit of its movement, inwhich position the vanes are held into the wind. For the purpose ofaugmenting the action of the spring 16, torsional springs 17 areemployed which surround the spokes 4 and have their ends secured to saidring and to the outer ends of the clips 7. The springs 17 have theadditional function of cushioning the vanes 6 in their movements so asto prevent 'a too sudden operation of the parts, which would tend tocause undue vibration and wear.

The centrifugal actuating mechanism comprises arms 18 having angular endportions 19 journaled in bearings 20 secured at opposite points on thering 5, the portions 19 being held against displacement from saidbearings by stop screws 21. Weights 22 are adjustably mounted on thethreaded outer end portions of the arms 18. points intermediate of saidarms, the ends of links 23 are pivotally secured, which links have theirother ends pivoted to respective levers 24, the latter being pivoted tothe sleeve 10. Links 25 are pivoted to the levers 24 between their endsand to lugs 26 on the collar 9. It will thus be seen that under a highwind, when the rotation of the wheel exceeds a predetermined limit, thearms 18 will move outwardly by centrifugal force, and in such outwardmovement will through the medium of the links 23, levers 24 and links25, move the sleeve 10 toward the collar 9, such movement of the sleeve10 moving the vanes 6 out of the wind thereby reducing the speed of thewheel. \Vhen the speed falls to the determinate degree, the

arms 18 will move inwardly and the springs 16 and 17 will reset theparts to normal position, the vanes 6 being thus restored to positionsagainst the wind.

In case it is desired to stop the action of the wheel or to reduce itsspeed to a minimum, manually controlled actuating means are provided.Such manual means comprises a bell crank lever 27 pivoted to a bracket28 on the wind mill frame and having one arm connected to a pull rod 29and its other arm terminating in a fork 30 which surrounds a sleeve 31slidable on the shaft 2 and formed with an annular flange 32 againstwhich the fork 30 bears. Movement of the sleeve 31 in one direction islimited by the collar 9 and in the opposite direction by a stop collar33 provided on the shaft 2. The sleeve 31 is connected to the sleeve 10by links 34 having slotted ends to receive guide pins 36 provided on thecollar 10. It will thus be seen that when the rod 29 is pulled manually,the lever 27 will move the sleeve 31, toward the collar 33 whereby thesleeve 10 will be moved toward the collar 9.

The invention, may be altered in various detailed features without adeparture from the basic principle involved and within the scope of theterms of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim 1. A windmillcomprising, in combination, a shaft, a wind-wheel frame mounted thereon,said frame having a peripheral band and spokes, a series of vanesmounted on said frame slotted to receive said band and lie adjacent saidspokes, horizontal casings rotatably securing said vanes to said spokesand permitting radial movement, a slidable member mounted on said shaftand having a star-Wheel whose fingers are in en gagement with said vanesto impart rotation thereto, a weighted lever secured to said peripheralband and projecting rearwardly over said shaft, and direct leverconnections between said sliding member and said weighted levers, toautomatically rotate said vanes.

2. In wind mills, in combination, a shaft, a wind wheel structurethereon including a frame having vanes mounted thereon for partialrota-tion, operating means comprising a collar fast on the shaft, asleeve slidable on the shaft, connections between the sleeve and thevanes to move the latter pivotally when the former is moved slidably andan expansive coil spring between the collar and the sleeve, andactuating means comprising weighted arms pivoted on the wheel structure,levers pivoted on the sleeve, links pivoted to the levers and the collarand links connecting the arms and the levers.

3. In wind mills, in combination, a shaft, a wind wheel structurecomprising a frame having partially rotatable vanes mounted thereon,operating means comprising a collar fast on the shaft, a sleeve slidableon the shaft, operative connections between the sleeve and the vanes andan expansive coil spring between the collar and the sleeve for holdingthe latter in a normal position, and actuating means comprising a leverpivoted to the sleeve, a link pivoted to the leverand to the collar andmeans for moving the lever on its pivot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FREDRICK A. PREUSS. lVitnesses CARL DmrMEL, HERBERT BUETTNER.

